*SOLUDO @ 60: CELEBRATING THE UNCOMMON ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF AN ACHIEVER!*
*By Christian ABURIME*
Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR; former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; Chairman of Anambra Vision 2070 and member of Presidential Economic Advisory Council clocks 60 years 28th of July, 2020
Prof Charles Soludo's life right from his secondary to University days till now, has been one of uncommon accomplishments
From a very humble beginning, it has been one sterling achievement after another culminating in to an amazing life of uncommon feats.
Soludo earned a Distinction grade at the secondary school; a Bsc (First Class Honours) in Economics; an M.Sc. and a Ph.D (Economics) winning Departmental, Faculty and University awards as best Graduating student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He had cumulative four years of post-doctoral training and research in some of the world's best institutions including the Brookings Institution, Washington DC; University of Oxford, UK; University of Warwick, UK; Cambridge University as Smuts scholar; UN Economic Commission for Africa; tPIMF Research Department and several more.
Soludo is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (FCIB); Fellow of the Nigerian Economic Society (FNES), and awarded Doctor of Science (D.Sc) ( Honoris Causa) from three universities
He was visiting Associate Professor at Swarthmore College, USA, and promoted Professor of Economics at the age of 38 (University of Nigeria, Nsukka).
He has lived and worked in Ethiopia, UK, and the USA and have travelled to 45 other countries before joining Government in 2003.
As a consultant to over 18 international organizations ( including the World Bank, IMF, OECD Paris, European Union, Africa Union, USAID, UK-DFID, ADB, IBM Consulting, USA; IDRC Canada; Chemonics, UNCTAD; AERC Nairobi; Soludo garnered wide ranging experiences and knowledge consulting for these world organizations/institutions
Prof Soludo was also the founding Executive Director of the African Institute for Applied Economics, Enugu. He has to his credits over 80 scholarly publications, 15 books, and over 250 monographs, conference papers and public lectures
At the Federal Government (2003 - 2009), Soludo held five substantive positions: Chief Economic Adviser to the President; Deputy Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission (of ministerial rank by law); Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman, Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Plc; Founder and Chairman, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), as well as membership of more than 25 technical/policy committees.
These assignments saw Soludo draft the Government's reform agenda (National Economic Empowerment and Development strategy, NEEDS); massively restructured non-performing government institutions; rebuilt the CBN and NSPM; revolutionalized the Nigerian banking/financial system; set up a new international financial institution, AFC, and helped to steer the Nigerian economy away from the global financial crisis.
For these accomplishments, Prof Chukwuma Soludo was decorated with scores of awards, including being awarded the African and Global Central Bank Governor of the year, 2006 by the Banker (Financial Times) and the Financial Times describing him as "a great reformer"
The Federal Government of Nigeria in recognition of these sterling achievements conferred the third highest national honour ( Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR) on him in 2006
Prof. Soludo served the Federal Government of Nigeria under two Presidents before now: below are excerpts of what each has to say about his services to Nigeria;
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, in December, 2004 said the following concerning Soludo's outstanding performance in his government:
*" Charles Soludo is a true Nigerian. He is the sort of Nigerian that we all know we can rely on. Among his numerous virtues is COURAGE. I have found in him a man who can take tough and realistic decisions, stand his ground, educate others on the salience of his decision, and work very hard to ensure that the decision is efficiently and effectively implemented. His dedication to duty is first rate. His LEADERSHIP qualities are admirable and his willingness to listen and learn is simply infectious. Prof Soludo has within a short time emerged as one of the leading lights of our nation. Not because he has a godfather but by sheer hardwork, loyalty, dedication to duty, commitment to the nation, creativity and undiluted association with the reform agenda... "*
The late President Musa Yar'Adua had the following to say about the performance of CBN under the leadership of Prof Charles Soludo in May, 2009
*"... the CBN has performed creditably well in delivering on its core mandates. This is especially even more so in the last five years. Most people would agree that without the successful banking consolidation and effective management of our foreign reserves, the current global crisis would have shaken the financial system and our national economy to their foundations with calamitous consequences*
In President Yar'Adua's letter of commendation after the completion of Soludo's tenure as Governor of CBN, Yar'Adua had the following to say about Prof Charles Soludo in June, 2009:
*"As your tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria comes to a glorious end, I write on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria to place on record our debt of gratitude to you for your dedicated service and uncommon sense of duty over the past five years. I am confident that your worthy antecedents in CBN and in prior appointments in the service of our nation remain sources of inspiration to an entire generation. As I wish you even more astounding successes in the years ahead, it is my fervent hope that you will readily avail us of your distinguished service when the need arises in the future"*
Even with all these amazing achievements, Soludo remains a humility personified. A man with a heart of gold, teacher , leader, reformer and mentor to millions of Nigerian youths
Prof Soludo holds the traditional title of " Odenigbo Aguata na Orumba" conferred on him by all the 46 communities in the Old Aguata Union, (OAU) comprising of Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas of Anambra state. He is the second person to be so honoured after former vice president Alex Ekwueme
Today, the entire world celebrates a man who took the Nigeria's policy arena by storm, with utmost conviction, commitment and courage,
A man of great passion and patriotism. The revolutionary Reformer and Mr NEEDS. A role model to the Nigerian youths, winner of the 2004 Kwame Nkrumah African Leadership Award, the man decorated as "The Most Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka" by the University Senate and Community in 2004. The man who won the prestigious IOD 2004 NIGERIA ENTERPRISE AWARD - in recognition of his outstanding achievements as the 2004 Reformer of the year
Today, I join his millions of admirers, friends and associates all over the world to celebrate this uncommon achiever, a Colossus of our time, the pride of the nation and Ndi Anambra, as he marks his 60th birthday.
Happy 60th birthday Prof !!!
*By Christian ABURIME*